If you're selling your home for sale by owner (FSBO) in St. Louis, hiring a flat-fee MLS service can help you increase your listing's visibility without breaking the bank.
The average commission rate for full-service listing agents in the Gateway to the West is approximately 3%. Based on the median sale price for St. Louis homes, as of January 2020, that translates to about $5,340.
In contrast, typical rates for flat-fee MLS companies in St. Louis are in between $199 and $750. Nationwide, the most basic plans can be as low as $50 to $99, while more comprehensive services range upwards of $1,000 to $3,000.
It's important to remember that every St. Louis flat-fee MLS service is different. When evaluating offerings, be sure to read the fine print: look at things like the length of the listing term (and how much it costs to extend); whether there's a fee to make changes to your listing; how many photos are allowed; the policy on buyer's agent commission; and more.
>> LEARN more about flat-fee MLS services and how to evaluate them.
To help you make the right choice, Clever has picked some of the top flat-fee MLS services across St. Louis.
Top St. Louis Flat-Fee MLS Companies in 2020
Avenue STL
Avenue STLPrice Range
$750 + $500 at close
Number of Photos
24
Listing Term
6 months
- Avenue STL is a licensed, St. Louis real estate brokerage that offers a flat-fee MLS listing service
- Buyer leads forwarded to you
- Unlimited listing changes
- Home valuation available on website
- For further listing info, submit your property info on Avenue STL’s website
- Offers $500 refund if you decide to list with one of Avenue STL’s full-service agents
$750 + $500 at closing - MLS Listing package
- 6-month listing on MLS
- Syndicated to Realtor.com, Zillow, Trulia, and more
- 24 Photos
- Unlimited listing changes
- Yard sign
- Lockbox
- Buyer leads forwarded to you
- Transaction coordinator available for listing assistance
For further listing info, submit your property info on Avenue STL’s website
Pros
- Unlimited listing changes
- 24 photos in base package
- Offers $500 refund if you decide to list with one of Avenue STL’s full-service agents
- Buyer leads forwarded to you
- Home valuation available on website
Cons
- Only one package — no budget option
- $500 fee due at close
- No built-in market analysis
- Listing/Pricing info not readily available on website
As of July 31, 2020, Avenue STL has an average rating of 4.6/5 based on 161 reviews across Google, Yelp, and Facebook.
BuySelf Realty
BuySelf RealtyPrice Range
$199-499
Number of Photos
8-35
Listing Term
3-18 months
- BuySelf Realty is a licensed, real estate brokerage that specializes in flat-fee MLS listing services in Illinois, Ohio, Minnesota, Maryland, Tennessee, Missouri, and Virginia
- No cancellation fee
- Free listing changes
- Retain right to FSBO
- Buyer leads forwarded to you
- A-la-carte services include showing scheduling, professional photography, lockboxes, signs, and more
$199 - Economy Package
| $299 - Standard Package
|
- A-la-carte services include showing scheduling, professional photography, lockboxes, signs, and more
- Pricing differs for Kansas City, Springfield, and southern Missouri; see full site for details
Pros
- No cancellation fee
- Free listing changes
- Buyer leads forwarded to you
Cons
- Only 8 photos in base package
- No built-in home valuation or market analysis
As of August 1, 2020, BuySelf Realty has an average rating of 4.9/5 based on 253 reviews across Google and Facebook.
Flat Fee Guy
Flat Fee GuyPrice Range
$99-798.97
Number of Photos
36
Listing Term
6-12 months
- Flat Fee Guy is a licensed, real estate brokerage that specializes in flat-fee MLS listing services in Missouri and Kansas
- Listing live within 1-2 business days
- Yard sign and lockbox provided
- Service has been reconfigured for remote consultations and distancing
- Website offers unclear information regarding services and pricing
$99/month - Flat Fee Monthly
$399 + 0.33% at closing - Flat Fee Optimizer
| $299 - Flat Fee Basic
$699 - Flat Fee Maximizer
$798.97 - Flat Fee Advertiser
|
Pros
- 36 photos in base package
- Service has been reconfigured for remote consultations and distancing
Cons
- No built-in home valuation or market analysis
- Website offers unclear information regarding services and pricing
As of August 12, 2020, Flat Fee Guy has an average rating of 2.3/5 based on 3 reviews on Google and an A+ rating on the Better Business Bureau.
Lauralei Properties
Lauralei PropertiesPrice Range
$199+
Number of Photos
35
Listing Term
6 months
- Lauralei Properties is a licensed real estate brokerage that specializes in flat-fee MLS services in St. Louis and the surrounding areas
- You choose the buyer’s commission and pay no commission if you find the buyer ($99 transaction fee)
- Buyer and agent inquires forwarded directly to you
- Free comparative market analysis (CMA) available upon request
- Free listing changes
- Offers a variety of additional, a-la-carte options including paperwork assistance, lockbox, showing support, and more
$199
- 6-month listing on MLS
- Syndicated to Realtor.com, Zillow, Trulia, and more
- 35 Photos
- Open house listing on MLS
- CMA (available upon request)
- Printable flyer
Available a-la-carte services and packages include: yard sign, ShowingTime, lockbox, paperwork assistance, and more
Pros
- Work directly with a local broker, not a referral service
- Free CMA
- Free listing changes
- Buyer and agent inquires forwarded directly to you
Cons
- $99 transaction fee if you find your own buyer
- 6-month listing term is the only option
As of August 17, 2020, Lauralei Properties has an average rating of 4.9/5 based on 60 reviews across Google and Zillow.
- Zillow: 4.9/5 (44 reviews)
- Google: 5/5 (6 reviews)
- Better Business Bureau: A+
National Flat-Fee MLS Services & Brokers Operating in St. Louis
Flat Fee Realty
Flat Fee RealtyPrice Range
$199
Number of Photos
6
Listing Term
6 months
- Flat Fee Realty is a nationwide flat-fee MLS referral service, licensed in Connecticut, that connects you with Missouri brokers and agents who will list your home on the MLS for a pre-negotiated rate
- You set buyer’s agent commission
- MLS photo upgrade available for $50
- State disclosures and forms available
- Unlimited listing changes
- Buyer leads forwarded to you
- Refund available within 30 days of purchase
$199 - MLS Listing package
- 6-month listing on MLS
- Syndicated to Realtor.com, Zillow, Trulia, and more
- 6 Photos
- Free state disclosures
- Unlimited listing changes
- No cancellation fee
- Buyer leads forwarded to you
MLS photo upgrade available for $50
Pros
- Unlimited listing changes
- No cancellation fee
- Free state disclosures
- Buyer leads forwarded to you
- Refund available within 30 days of purchase
Cons
- No built-in home valuation or market analysis
- Limited coverage in rural areas
As of August 11, 2020, no third-party reviews exist for Flat Fee Realty. We will update when this information becomes available.
Alternatives to Flat-Fee MLS in St. Louis
The St. Louis real estate market is increasing rapidly. According to Zillow, the median home value rose 2.2% over the past year and is expected to increase by 3.8% in the next year. To realize your home's full value (or ideally more), it's important to weigh all of your options for selling before making a final decision.
- Flat-Fee Real Estate Agents
- Discount Real Estate Agents
- Low-Commission Real Estate Agents
- 1% Commission Real Estate Agents
- Sell to an iBuyer